Safety device for firearms



July 7, 1964 E. E. SCHAEFER SAFETY DEVICE FOR FIREARMS Filed 001;. 30, 1961 INVENTOR.

1 7 dwardfi 5 c/zczef United States Patent Ofiice 3,139,694 Patented July 7, 1964 3,139,694 SAFETY DEVHIE FOR FIREARMS Edward E. Schaefer, 1534 Park Ave., River Forest, Ill. Filed Oct. 34 I961, Ser. No. 148,360 9 Claims. (Cl. 42-70) This invention relates to safety devices, and more particularly to a combination safety and theft-preventing device adapted for use with firearms, orthe like.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a safety device for preventing actuation of a hazardous article having a movable member controlling operation thereof.

A more particular object is to provide a combination safety and theft-discouraging device adapted for use with firearms, or the like, for preventing unintentional actuation of the trigger thereof and casual theft of the firearm.

A further object is to provide an improved device of the foregoing character that is adapted for use with firearms, or the like, having one or two triggers.

Still another object is to provide a novel safety and theft-discouraging device adapted for use with firearms, or the like, which requires a special tool for installation and removal, thereby to discourage casual theft of an article with which the device is used.

A further object is to provide a novel combination safety and theft-discouraging device that is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and easy to install or remove.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon making reference to the detailed description which follows and accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the combination safety and theft-discouraging device of the present invention as it would appear when mounted on a firearm adjacent the trigger and guard thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a View along the line 22 of FIGURE 1 and showing an associated tool for effecting mounting and demounting of the device;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view along the line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, but showing the combination safety and theft-discouraging device mounted in operable relation on a firearm having a pair of tandemly arranged triggers and an enclosing guard, a portion of the device being removed to show the internal arrangement of the parts;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view along the line 5--5 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is an end elevational view of a tool adapted for use with the device illustrated in FIGURE 5 for effecting installation and removal thereof.

Briefly described, the present invention contemplates, in its broader aspects, a. combination safety and theftdiscouraging device for use with hazardous articles having a movable member or trigger for controlling operation of the article. In its more specific aspects, the present invention contemplates a combination safety and theft-discouraging device that isparticularly adapted for use with guns, or the like, having one or more triggers and an enclosing guard, for preventing unintentional actuation of the triggers and possible discharge of the gun. In addition to the safety aspects of the present device, the latter is also effective to discourage pilferage or casual theft of the article with which the device is used in that it provides a convenient connection for a retaining device such as a chain, or the like.

Thus, the instant device comprises a pair of plate or clamp members that are adapted to be disposed in embracing relation with the trigger and enclosing guard of the gun. Laterally extending removable means in the guard 12.

form of a screw having an enlarged head and a threaded shank is provided for urging the plate members into embracing relation with the trigger and guard. Spacing means carriedby the plate members is provided for maintaining the latter spaced apart by an amount preferably equal to or greater than the thickness of the trigger, such spacer means being arranged so as to provide at least one abutment for limiting movement of the trigger in a direction to effect discharge of the gun. In the case of a double-trigger gun, the shank of the screw forms another abutment for resisting movement of the other trigger. The plate members are sized to fit within the open area of the trigger guard and the spacing means is arranged on the plates to permit them to be positioned in close proximity to or in engagement with the trigger to restrict movementthereof when the device is secured to the guard.

In order to provide the theft-discouraging: feature of the invention, one of the plate members includes a portion adapted to extend outwardly of the trigger guard when the device is mounted on a gun, the portion having an opening therethrough for receiving one end of a retaining means such as a chain. Thus, when installed on a gun, or the like, the combination safety and theft-discouraging device of the present invention not only prevents movement of the trigger or triggers of the gun, but also discourages theft of the article.

In FIGURE 1, the action portion of a gun It) is illustrated, the latter including a trigger 11 and an enclosing A combination safety and theft-discouraging device 20 embodying the features of the present invention is shown mounted on the guard 12 in embracing relation with the trigger 11.

As will be apparent from FIGURES 2 and 3 in conjunction with FIGURE 1, the device 2% comprises a pair of elongated plate members 21 and 22 which are adapted to be disposed in embracing relation with a portion of the guard 12 and the trigger 11. In the present instance,

the plate members are of a generally oval or elliptical shape and are sized to fit within the open area of the guard 12. The plate members 21 and 22 include respective depending contoured clamp portions 23 and 24 adapted to enclose and engage a portion of the guard 12 to secure the device 20 thereto. The portions 23 and 24, in this instance, are semi-cylindrical in cross section and are covered with a soft, resilient material, indicated at 26, such as plastic, rubber, or the like, to prevent marring of the surface of the guard 12.

In order to provide means for urging the plate members 21 and 22 toward each other and to secure the device 20 to the guard 12, a removable member is provided in the form of a laterally extending screw 27 having an enlarged head 28 and a threaded shank 29. The plate 21 is provided with a shallow cup-shaped insert 30 secured in an opening 31 by riveting or upsetting in the member 21. The insert 30 has a central opening 32 therethrough for receiving the shank 29 of the screw 27. The inner side and end walls of the insert 30, indicated at 33 and 34, respectively, are sufficiently wide and deep to receive the enlarged head 28 of the screw 27 in nested relation in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3. When so nested, the end face of the head 28 is substantially flush with the outer end of the insert 30 and an annular space 35 is defined between the head 28 and side wall 33. The plate 22 is similarly provided with an insert 36 secured in an opening 37 in the plate and extending outwardly therefrom. A central threaded opening 33 is provided in the insert 35 for receiving the shank 29.

The head 28 in this instance is provided with a pair of diametrically spaced axially extending recesses or openings 39 (FIGURES l and 2) for receiving the bifurcated ends 40 of a tool or wrench 41 for effecting threaded engagement or disengagement of the screw 27 in the plate member 22. The tool 41 in the present instance, comprises a U-shaped wire bail 42 disposed between a pair of sheet disk members 43, the members 43 being providedwith complementally-shaped upraised portions 44 for receiving the bail 42 therebetween. The disks 43 in this instance are secured together and around the bail 42 by spot welding, indicated at 45.

The tool 41 is exemplary of one means for effecting threaded engagement or disengagement of the screw 27 with the members 21 and 22, in that when the ends 40 are inserted into the openings 39 of the screw 27, the latter may be readily threaded into or out of the insert 36 to effect clamping movement of the plates 21 and 22. When the screw 27 is fully threaded into the insert 36 as illustrated in FIGURE 3, it will be apparent that casual removal of the screw 27 and thus demounting of the device 20 is quite difiicult without the tool 41.

In order to further render casual manipulation of the screw 27 difficult and thus to enhance the theft-discouraging characteristics of the device 20, a cup-shaped shield or housing 46 may be secured around the insert 36, thereby to enclose the outer end of the screw 29 to prevent manipulation thereof.

In order to prevent defacing of the trigger 11 when the device 20 is mounted on the guard 12, spacing means is provided for maintaining a predetermined spacing between the plates 21 and 22 when the screw 27 is drawn up. In the present instance, such spacing means com- .prises a pair of inwardly directed opposed flanges or arms 47 and 48, at one end of the respective plates 21 and 22, and a cross member in the form of a pin 49, which extends laterally between the plates 21 and 22 and has an enlarged cylindrical portion 51 of a length substantially equal to the combined length of the arms 47 and 48. The pin 49 in this instance has one end mounted in an opening 50 in the plate 21, and a portion of the pin 49, indicated at 52, extends outwardly of the plate 22 through an opening 53 therein to facilitate mounting of the device 20. The length of the arms 47 and 48 and the length of the portion 51 is such as to provide a spacing between the plates 21 and 22 at least equal to or greater than the width of the trigger 11, thereby to prevent contact between the trigger and the inner sides of the plates 21 and 22. When the ends of the arms 47 and 48 are engaged, as in FIG- URE 2, the latter provide an abutment for limiting movement of the trigger 11.

With the foregoing construction, the device 20 is mounted on the guard 12 so that the arms 47 and 48 are disposed closely adjacent the trigger 11, in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2. When thus positioned, the trigger 11 is inaccessible due to the position of the plates 21 and 22 in the opening of the guard 12 and because of their embracing relation around the trigger 11. Casual manipulation or movement of the trigger 11 is thus prevented by the abutting arms 47, 48, or by an attempted movement of the entire device 20, due to the frictional engagement of the portions 23 and 24 wtih the guard 12. The gun is thus rendered safe for display or inspection purposes. Should a cartridge be inadvertently left in the chamber of the gun, or intentionally placed there for demonstration purposes, the possibility of accidental discharge of the gun is precluded.

The device 20 is also elfective to discourage casual theft of the gun 10 in that the semi-cylindrical portion 24 is provided with an outwardly extending flange 55 having an opening 56 therein for receiving an end of a chain 57, or the like. The other end of the chain 57 may be secured to any convenient anchor point or mounting, such as a gun rack or show case, thereby to discourage casual theft.

In FIGURES 4 and 5, the action portion of a gun 60 is illustrated having a pair of tandemly arranged triggers 60 and 62 and an enclosing guard 63. A combination safety and theft-discouraging device 70 embodying the features of the present invention is shown in operable relation with the gun 60. The device 76 is substantially identical with the device 20 illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 3, but differs therefrom in the size and shape of the plate members employed to enclose the triggers 61 and 62, the type of screw employed to urge the plate members of the device together and in the type of tool employed to effect threaded engagement and disengagement of the screw. Like reference numerals will be used to identify parts identical with the device 20.

As will be apparent from FIGURES 4 and 5, the device 70 includes a pair of elongated generally oval plate members 65 and 66 which are adapted to be mounted on the guard 63 in a manner similar to the plate members 21 and 22 of the device 20. The device 70 also includes a screw 71 having an enlarged head 72 and a threaded shank 73 for urging the plates 65 and 66 together. The enlarged head 72 is received in a recessed insert 30 in the plate 65 and the shank 73 is threaded into an insert 36 in the plate 66, as previously described. Spacing means in the form of a pair of laterally extending inturned arms 47 and 48 are provided at one end of the plates 65 and 66, and'a pin 49 having an enlarged portion 51 is provided at the other end of the plates. The arms 47 and 48, when engaged, provide an abutment for the rearward trigger 61.

The device 70 is mounted on the guard 63 in a manner similar to the device 20 but is arranged so that the forward trigger 62 is disposed closely adjacent the shank 73 of the screw '71. The shank 73 thus forms an abutment for the forward trigger 62. In addition, because the plates 65 and 66 substantially wholly enclose the triggers 61 and 62, they are substantiallyinaccessible when thedevice 70 is mounted in the manner illustrated. Movement of either of the triggers 61 or 62 is thus prevented.

The device 70 differs from the previous embodiment in the construction. of the enlarged head, indicated at 72, of the screw 71, and that of the tool or wrench, in-

dicated at 75, for effecting engagement or disengagement of the screw 72.

As shown in FIGURE 5, the enlarged head 72 is provided with a single eccentric axially extending recess or opening 76 for receiving a complementally arranged pin or stud 77, sized for insertion in the opening 76. The pin 77 extends outwardly from the inner end wall, indicated at 78, of an annular recess 79, formed, in this instance, in the end of the tool 75. The recess 79 has an internal diameter substantially equal to the external diameter of the screw head 72 to accommodate the latter in the recess. The overall diameter of the end of the wrench 75 is substantially equal to that of the internal diameter of the side wall 33 so as to provide an annular cylindrical guide portion 81 having a wall thickness substantially equal to the depth and width of the annular space 35. Thus, when the tool 75 is engaged with the head 72 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5, the screw may be threaded into or out of engagement with the plate 66 to effect installation or removal of the device 70. Because only a single opening 76 is provided in the head 72, casual manipulationand removal of the screw is diflicult, if not impossible- A handle 80 (FIG- 7 7 means carried by said plate members for urging the latter toward each other and said clamp portions into engagement with said guard, and spacing means carried at each end of said plate members for maintaining the latter spaced from each other at opposite sides of said trigger, said spacing means providing an abutment at one end of said plate members for limiting movement of said trigger when said device is disposed in operable relation with said trigger and guard, whereby said device is effective to restrict movement of said trigger, thereby to prevent accidental discharge of said firearm.

2. A safety device according to claim 1, further characterized in that said plate members are generally ovalshaped and said clamp portions depend from said plate portions and are contoured to enclose and engage a portion of said trigger guard when the plate members are urged toward each other.

3. A device according to claim 1, further characterized in that one of said plate members includes a portion extending outwardly therefrom to provide a mounting for one end of a chain or the like, thereby to prevent casual theft of said firearm.

4. A device according to claim 1, further characterized in that said removable means for urging said plate members toward each other comprises a screw having an enlarged head and a threaded shank, said head being adapted to engage one of said plate members and said shank extending through an opening in said one plate member and being threaded into an opening in the other of said plate members.

5. A device according to claim 4, further characterized in that said one plate member includes a recess in the side face thereof for receiving the enlarged head of said screw in nested relation, said head having at least one recess for receiving a complementally shaped tool for effecting engagement and disengagement of said screw.

6. A device according to claim 5, further characterized in that the other of said plate members includes an outwardly extending housing for enclosing the shank of said screw to prevent manipulation thereof.

7. A device according to claim 5, further characterized in that the head of said screw is provided with at least two recesses for receiving a bifurcated tool to permit manipulation of said screw.

8. A device according to claim 5, further characterized in that said tool includes a portion adapted to enclose the head of said screw when said complementally shaped portion is engaged in said recess.

9. A safety device adapted for use with a firearm, or the like, having a pair of tandemly arranged triggers and a surrounding trigger guard having a generally ovalshaped open area, comprising a pair of generally ovalshaped plate members of smaller size than said open area and adapted to embrace said triggers and to be loosely received in said open area, said plate members having depending clamp portions adapted to engage a portion of said guard for securing said device thereto, screw means disposed substantially centrally of and extending between said plate members for urging the latter toward each other and said clamp portions into engagement with said guard, and laterally extending spacer means carried adjacent the ends of said plate members for maintaining the latter spaced from each other at opposite sides of said triggers, said spacer means providing an abutment at one end of said plate members for limiting movement of one of said triggers, and said screw means comprising another abutment for limiting movement of the other of said triggers, whereby said device is efiective when engaged with said guard to restrict movement of said triggers and prevent accidental discharge of said firearm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 521,533 Campbell June 19, 1894 1,686,482 Windle Oct. 2, 1928 2,503,953 Lind Apr. 11, 1950 2,664,658 Bjorklund Jan. 5, 1954 2,859,551 Buchanan Nov. 11, 1958 2,893,152 Peluso July 7, 1959 3,020,663 Newson Feb. 13, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 22,837 Norway Dec. 2, 1912 

1. A SAFETY DEVICE ADAPTED FOR USE WITH A FIREARM, OR THE LIKE, HAVING A TRIGGER AND A SURROUNDING TRIGGER GUARD HAVING A GENERALLY OVAL-SHAPED OPEN AREA, COMPRISING A PAIR OF ELONGATED PLATES MEMBERS OF SMALLER SIZE THAN SAID OPEN AREA AND ADAPTED TO BE LOOSELY RECEIVED THEREIN AND TO EMBRACE SAID TRIGGER, SAID PLATE MEMBERS HAVING CLAMP PORTIONS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE A PORTION OF SAID GUARD FOR SECURING THE DEVICE THEREON, REMOVABLE MEANS CARRIED BY SAID PLATE MEMBERS FOR URGING THE LATTER TOWARD EACH OTHER AND SAID CLAMP PORTIONS INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID GUARD AND SPACING MEANS CARRIED AT EACH END OF SAID PLATE MEMBERS FOR MAINTAINING THE LATTER SPACED FROM EACH OTHER AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID TRIGGER, SAID SPACING MEANS PROVIDING AN ABUTMENT AT ONE END OF SAID PLATE MEMBERS FOR LIMITING MOVEMENT OF SAID TRIGGER WHEN SAID DEVICE IS DISPOSED IN OPERABLE RELATION WITH SAID TRIGGER AND GUARD, WHEREBY SAID DEVICE IS EFFECTIVE TO RESTRICT MOVEMENT OF SAID TRIGGER, THEREBY TO PREVENT ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE OF SAID FIREARM. 